Wayfair refutes QAnon-like conspiracy theory that it’s trafficking children

Wayfair is pushing back on a conspiracy spreading across social media accusing it of trafficking children using the products on its website.

The furniture and home goods company came under scrutiny after the conspiracy theory started spreading Friday, baselessly claiming the company was trafficking children through storage cabinets because the products were “extremely overpriced” at about $13,000. 

Wayfair told The Hill in a statement Monday that “there is, of course, no truth to these claims.”

“The products in question are industrial grade cabinets that are accurately priced,” a spokesperson said. “Recognizing that the photos and descriptions provided by the supplier did not adequately explain the high price point, we temporarily removed the products from site to rename them and provide a more in-depth description and photos that accurately depict the product to clarify the price point.”

The theory seemed to originate from the r/conspiracy subreddit on Reddit, although different Twitter accounts have shared information on the theories since June, BuzzFeed News reported. 

The conspiracy theorists have no evidence to back their claims, though they point to the high prices and human names given to products to back their assertions. The story was disproved by various media outlets like Snopes and Reuters.

But several Instagram influencers promoted the theory in their weekend content, BuzzFeed News noted, and it has gained traction.

The conspiracy theory seems to play off the larger QAnon theory that claims that a secret political group of pedophiles control the world, and President Trump is fighting that group.

Several candidates who have publicly backed the QAnon conspiracy theory have fared well in their primaries this year, with at least eight believers set to appear on general election ballots for House races in November. 

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that of the more than 23,500 children designated as endangered runaways last year, it is likely as many as 1 in 6 became victims of sex trafficking.